7 Movies Starring Bill Cobbs

The Bodyguard

The Bodyguard

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1992-11-25

Languages:

English, Japanese

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

129 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

6.1 (82174 Reviews)

Director:

Mick Jackson

Fullplot:

A pop singer has been receiving threatening notes, and her manager hires a bodyguard known for his good work. The bodyguard ruffles the singer's feathers and most of her entourage by tightening security more than they feel is necessary. The bodyguard is haunted by the fact that he was on Reagan's secret service staff but wasn't there to prevent the attack by Hinckley. Eventually the bodyguard and the singer start an affair, and she begins to believe his precautions are necessary when the stalker strikes close to home.

Nightjohn

Nightjohn

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1996-06-01

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

92 min

Rated:

PG-13

IMDB Ratings:

6.8 (273 Reviews)

Director:

Charles Burnett

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Gary Paulsen (book)

Bill Cain (teleplay)

Fullplot:

Sarny, a 12-year-old slave girl in the ante-bellum South, faces a relatively hopeless life. Her chief duties at the plantation of Clel Waller are serving at table, spitting tobacco juice on roses to prevent bugs, and secretly conveying intimate messages between Waller's wife, Callie, and Dr. Chamberlaine. Then Nightjohn arrives. A former runaway slave who bears telltale scars on his back, he takes Sarny under his wing and, in exchange for a pinch of tobacco, secretly begins to teach her to read and write, a crime punishable by death. "Words," he says, "are freedom. Slavery is made of words: laws, deeds and passes." He starts by drawing letters in the dirt and cautions her that no one must know. At her baptism, Sarny steals a Bible that belongs to Waller's son, Jeffrey, and practices reading by lantern-light in the slave quarters. The same Bible serves another purpose when, on a blank page taken from it, Nightjohn forges a pass for Outlaw, a young slave, to use in escaping to freedom in the North with his beloved Egypt, a slave on another plantation. Waller finds the Bible and demands to know who stole it. Delie, who cared for Sarny as a child, fears for her now and accepts the blame. But Nightjohn forestalls the lashing Delie is to receive, saying he's the one, for he can read. He tries to run away but is caught, and his hand is tied to a chopping block. With an ax, Waller delivers the severing blow, exacting the brutal penalty for Nightjohn's literacy. As he is dragged off to be sold, he tells Sarny, "When they cut off one hand, the other hand grows stronger." That night Sarny writes a pass for Egypt that will let her join Outlaw on the flight to freedom. Two days later their escape is discovered and the false passes found. Waller knows Nightjohn wrote Outlaw's pass. But who wrote the second? He interrupts a church service to demand the answer, threatening to kill all his slaves if no one tells. Sarny confesses, but declares he'll kill no one, for the slaves represent his wealth. As Waller raises his rifle, Sarny implores Callie to speak up for her, hinting that she has read the messages to Dr. Chamberlaine. Callie refuses, but the doctor, fearful Sarny will reveal the relationship, says he's at fault. He tells of teaching Egypt some reading and writing, but now declares it was a mistake. Callie orders that Sarny be sold, and as the girl is joined to a line of other slaves, she asks if any of them have tobacco to trade. What has she to give in return? they want to know. And Sarny draws an A in the dirt.

Air Bud

Air Bud

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1997-08-01

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA, Canada

Runtime:

98 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

5.1 (12144 Reviews)

Cast:

Writer:

Kevin DiCicco (character "Air Bud")

Paul Tamasy

Aaron Mendelsohn

Fullplot:

A young boy and a talented stray dog with an amazing basketball playing ability become instant friends. Rebounding from his father's accidental death, 12-year-old Josh Framm moves with his family to the small town of Fernfield, Washington. The new kid in town, Josh has no friends and is too shy to try out for the school basketball team. Instead he prefers to practice alone on an abandoned court, he befriends a runaway golden retriever named Buddy. Josh is amazed when he realizes that Buddy loves basketball...that is playing basketball...and he is GOOD! Josh eventually makes the school team and Buddy is named the Team Mascot. Josh and Buddy become the stars of halftime. Buddy's half-time talent draws media attention. Unfortunately, when Buddy's mean former owner, Norm Snively, comes along with a scheme to cash in on the pup's celebrity, it looks like they are going to be separated.

Always Outnumbered

Always Outnumbered

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1998-03-21

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

104 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (1622 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Apted

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Walter Mosley (book)

Walter Mosley (teleplay)

Fullplot:

An ex-con moves to L.A. to find work and creates a disturbance by fighting for a position. More importantly he touches the lives of many of his neighbors including an older man dying of cancer, a young married couple whose husband is too proud to accept a lesser position which causes strife with his wife, and a young boy on the verge of getting in trouble with street gangs.

Always Outnumbered

Always Outnumbered

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1998-03-21

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

104 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (1621 Reviews)

Director:

Michael Apted

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Walter Mosley (book)

Walter Mosley (teleplay)

Fullplot:

An ex-con moves to L.A. to find work and creates a disturbance by fighting for a position. More importantly he touches the lives of many of his neighbors including an older man dying of cancer, a young married couple whose husband is too proud to accept a lesser position which causes strife with his wife, and a young boy on the verge of getting in trouble with street gangs.

The Ultimate Gift

The Ultimate Gift

Basic Info:

Released Date:

2007-03-09

Languages:

English, Spanish

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

114 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

7.4 (13217 Reviews)

Cast:

Writer:

Cheryl McKay (screenplay)

Jim Stovall (book)

Fullplot:

Jason thought his inheritance was going to be the gift of money and lots of it. Was he ever in for a big surprise. Based on the best-selling book "The Ultimate Gift" by Jim Stovall, the story sends trust fund baby Jason Stevens on an improbable journey of discovery, having to answer the ultimate question: "What is the relationship between wealth and happiness?" Jason had a very simple relationship with his impossibly wealthy Grandfather, Howard "Red" Stevens. He hated him. No heart-to-heart talks, no warm fuzzies, just cold hard cash. So of course he figured that when Red died, the whole "reading of the will" thing would be another simple cash transaction, that his Grandfather's money would allow him to continue living in the lifestyle to which he had become accustomed. But what Red left him was anything but simple. Red instead devised a plan for Jason to experience a crash course on life. Twelve tasks, which Red calls "gifts," each challenging Jason in an improbable way, the accumulation of which would change him forever.

Of Mind and Music

Of Mind and Music

Basic Info:

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

98 min

IMDB Ratings:

6.7 (11 Reviews)

Director:

Richie Adams

Genres:

DramaMusic

Fullplot:

A story about a beautiful street musician suffering from memory loss and a disheartened neuroscientist intent on helping her, bringing together the city of New Orleans and the jazz that made it famous.

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